The Civil Servant Who Concealed Their True Strength Turns Out to be a Master of Possession - Chapter 268

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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A Civil Servant Who Hides His Strength Is Exceptionally Good at Possession – Episode 268
The moment we arrived in New York, members of the Interpol Hunter Division greeted us.
I had expected them to look like 007 agents, but they were just ordinary Americans—slightly taller and broader in build, nothing more.
Even their attire wasn’t sleek black suits; one middle-aged man wore jeans and a t-shirt that read “Brooklyn.”
He smiled at me and greeted me in Korean at about Ocean’s level.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Johnny.”
“You’re quite fluent in Korean?”
“My older brother participated in the Korean War and married a Korean woman.”
“Ah… I see. That makes sense.”
“Haha. We even make kimchi at home! It’s delicious~”
What is this warm, friendly atmosphere?
For a mission to catch an international criminal in New York, the vibe felt oddly relaxed.
Noticing my confusion, Pee So-won placed a hand on my shoulder and spoke.
“Standing out would do us no good. Where and when we disembark, which hotel we’re staying at—all of it is classified.”
Ah, I see.
So they were treating us like relatives visiting from Korea.
Normally, when a president or dignitary of that caliber arrives, JFK Airport is shut down—but they hadn’t done that.
Only the runway was cleared on both ends; quite a few ordinary people still filled the airport entrance.
We did exit through the VIP corridor, though.
The vehicle Interpol had prepared was an unremarkable SUV.
“The board meeting begins the day after tomorrow.”
As I listened to Johnny’s fluent Korean, I realized something.
Now that I think about it, maybe that Korean he learned from his sister-in-law was a lie?
“Until then, you’ll be staying at the New York White Hotel. You can see Central Park from your room, and the room service is top-tier. Haha!”
It sounded an awful lot like we couldn’t leave the hotel room.
Ocean, reading my expression, spoke to me.
“If an urgent situation arises, you can go out while wearing this necklace.”
He handed me a cross necklace.
“Is it an item?”
“Yes. It makes you difficult to remember for others. It changes your face, clothes, and physique to match your surroundings. It also has the effect of obscuring your presence.”
Interesting. An upgraded version of the items I’d been using.
I gratefully accepted the necklace.
“However, I’d recommend not using that item if possible. The board meeting atmosphere isn’t very favorable.”
“The board meeting atmosphere isn’t favorable?”
Johnny answered my question.
“Tensions between Russia and the United States are escalating. There was a small fire in a car that an American official rode in from Washington, and that incident has sharpened relations between the two nations.”
“Was it terrorism?”
When Pee So-won asked, Johnny shrugged.
“We can’t know for sure. America says Russia did it, Russia says it was America’s false flag operation. It could have simply been an accident.”
“Hmm… if it was just an accident, that’s quite a coincidence.”
So that’s why they’re maintaining such airtight security?
I smacked my lips together.
That’s when Ocean reassured me.
“Please don’t worry too much. That’s a matter between the Executive Board representatives and has nothing to do with South Korea.”
Then Kwon Ik-seong spoke flatly.
“Someone might think South Korea is representing the interests of a particular nation. Or—”
Kwon Ik-seong looked at Ocean with unwavering eyes.
“There could be forces like the Hunter’s Faith that need to sow discord between two nations.”
He spoke to me.
“From now on, it’s best not to trust anyone. Even if they’re from Interpol.”
Ocean’s brow furrowed slightly at those words.
And so it was… a clash of AIs.
Caught between them, I simply gazed out the window and said this.
“Wow. That lake out there is huge! It looks like the ocean!”
“It is the ocean, you fool.”
Pee So-won let out a small sigh.
Ah, that’s right.
New York was a port city, wasn’t it?

* * *
I naturally assumed we’d each have separate rooms, but surprisingly, we were staying in the White Hotel’s Executive Suite.
What I mean by that is—
‘We were lodging in an incredibly spacious guest room with five separate rooms.’
Not only could we overlook the New York skyline at a glance, but Central Park was visible below, which was nice, but—
“Ik-seong! I heard you and Ocean have known each other for a long time? Ocean is a legendary figure at Interpol! And looking at you two now, you’re only one year apart in age, right?”
“By American standards, we’re the same age.”
“And you share the same surname?”
“Yes. Because we have the same father.”
“…?”
Even Interpol agent Johnny was left staring into the distance by this absolutely mind-bending situation.
Ocean and Kwon Ik-seong staying in the same guest room together.
‘Is this really okay?’
I approached Kwon Ik-seong while the Interpol agents inspected the interior of the suite.
“Um….”
“It’s fine.”
Just as I was struggling to find the words, Kwon Ik-seong answered immediately.
He looked down at me with an impassive expression.
“So you don’t need to worry about it.”
“How can I not worry about it…?”
I’m seriously worried about this.
“I’ll do my best to make sure you’re not inconvenienced.”
“No, that’s not what I meant.”
I sat on the spacious sofa, glancing across at Kwon Ik-seong before shifting toward him.
Lowering my voice so the people around us wouldn’t hear, I covered my mouth with my hand and whispered to Kwon Ik-seong.
“I was asking if you’re… doing okay emotionally?”
At those words, Kwon Ik-seong’s expression became enigmatic.
His face seemed to crumple for a moment, and then—
“….”
He let out a soft laugh.
Why. Why are you laughing?
I glanced around the room.
Then Ocean, who had been standing far away, briefly looked over at us before—
turning back around.
“Why…?”
“Ah. Well.”
Kwon Ik-seong hesitated for a moment.
“…Um….”
“What is it?”
He slowly raised his hand to cover his mouth before speaking.
“…Because you’re cute.”
“…!”
At those words, I jerked backward and instinctively hurled a cushion at Kwon Ik-seong.
I felt my face flush in an instant.
Kwon Ik-seong caught the cushion with one hand and placed it between us.
“I didn’t want to say it because I knew you’d react like this.”
Of course I’m flustered.
Don’t laugh like that!
He’s not even someone who laughs often!
I shook my head vigorously.
Seeing that, Kwon Ik-seong laughed again.
“This time, I absolutely, absolutely, absolutely won’t ask why.”
“Yes.”
Seeing my serious expression, Kwon Ik-seong nodded.
Like an obedient Doberman.
Then he asked.
“Are you doing alright, Lee Yu-ji? Emotionally, I mean.”
“Ah. Me…?”
I hesitated for a moment.
My emotions?
I’d never really thought about something like that….
Putting distance between myself and Baek Hee-ryeong did bring a measure of calm to my mind.
Before coming here, my very existence felt like a foreign object, but it’s not quite that bad anymore.
However—
“Choi Woo-jin is leaving the country tomorrow. It’s the fastest flight available, apparently.”
I have no way of knowing how turbulent the waves in my heart will become when I face Choi Woo-jin again.
Choi Woo-jin is coming to New York soon.
It’s for a transaction with Seol Ok-gyun.
Of course, just because Seol Ok-gyun is in New York doesn’t mean he’ll personally appear at the transaction site, but I can’t rule out the possibility.
Above all, Interpol needs to monitor in real-time how the astronomical sum of money Choi Woo-jin will provide moves through coin transactions and the like.
Even if it’s not Seol Ok-gyun, we might be able to identify important figures from the cult that we haven’t found yet.
In fact, the people we arrested were only the real power brokers of the South Korean branch.
The real power brokers of the overseas branches haven’t been caught, and moreover—
‘Seol Jo-yang was released.’
I heard the news yesterday—Seol Jo-yang was released because criminal charges couldn’t be substantiated against her.
We thoroughly searched her phone and laptop, but there was no evidence that she was involved in the fraud scheme or benefited illegally from it.
Furthermore, there was no confession or testimony from Seol Jo-yang whatsoever.
‘His abilities are real. I feel sorry for the investigators who can’t believe that. When dawn truly comes, they won’t survive.’
She still hasn’t abandoned her faith in Seol Ok-gyun.
If she truly believed in Seol Ok-gyun and did all of this because of that belief, the investigative authorities couldn’t punish her for it.
That’s what makes faith so terrifying.
‘That bastard should have known how precious a life is—a life lost because of a single mistake he made.’
I recalled my mother’s words for a moment.
That was when Kwon Ik-seong took my hand from beneath the cushion.
….
“I’m not alright.”
….
“Because Lee Yu-ji doesn’t seem alright.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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